Largest Countries in the World, Top 10 Biggest Countries by Area Africa 2,381,741 Russia's geographical position is commonly described as "Eurasia". Its Asian part alone has larger area as compared to an entire country. As the largest country in the Western Hemisphere, Canada has the longest coastline. Its border with the United States is the world's longest land border. Slighter smaller in area than Canada, the United States of America is bordered by Mexico to the south and Canada to the north. It has the world's most fertile growing areas. China shares its border with 14 different countries, including Afghanistan to the east, Russia to the north, and Vietnam to the south. It is also home to 56 recognized ethnic groups. As the largest country in South America, Brazil is the home to the world's largest rainforest named as the Amazon. Also, it has a lengthy Atlantic coastline on the eastern side. As the largest country in Oceania, Australia is a continental landmass and not an island. The country is well known for its extreme climate and wildlife. With rapidly changing boundaries over the past century, India has China, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal sharing their borders with it.

It was once separated from Asia by a particular sea. As the largest Spanish-speaking nation in the world, Argentina has a varied climate and geography. Its southern tip, Cape Horn is the stormiest location available on Earth. Formerly part of the USSR, Kazakhstan has been the largest nation in the world for most of the 20th century. It is also the largest landlocked country on the globe. Algeria is situated in Northern Africa and has a majority of its desert regions highly elevated. The Algerian Sahara desert extends all the way to the south of Algeria past its borders with Mali and Niger The world's ten biggest countries by size are ranked based on information from the CIA World Factbook. The numbers shown are based on the total land area of each country, including both land and water areas within the international boundaries. Russia is the largest country in the world by a wide margin, covering 17,098,242 square kilometers. Russia stretches across Eurasia, spanning nine time zones and covering about an eighth of the inhabited land area of the Earth. The next largest country is also located in the far north.

Canada covers the northern part of the Western Hemisphere, with a total area of 9,984,670 square kilometers. The United States and China are next on the list, so close in size that their positions are sometimes reversed, depending on the inclusion of particular territories and water areas. Just behind China and the USA is the largest country in South America, Brazil, with an area of 8,514,877 square miles, followed by Australia with an area of 7,692,024 square kilometers. Rounding out the top ten are the much smaller countries of India, Argentina, Kazakhstan and Algeria. Interactive Map of Largest Countries in the World The map of the ten largest countries by area is an interactive map of the world showing the largest countries. Hover your mouse over each of the top ten countries to see their areas in square kilometers. You must be Interested to Know The Largest Countries in the World - WorldAtlas.com The Largest Countries in the World The worlds largest nations, measured in square kilometers of land area.

Rolling Hills and Vast Vistas in Tuscany, Italy From Cape Horn all the way to the Arctic Circle, the world’s largest countries provide a beautiful snapshot of the variety of geography, climate and wildlife on the planet. Collectively, the world’s largest countries contain rainforest and tundra, mountains and valleys, coastline and desert. As this we explore the largest nations, we visit five different continents, some of the world’s most spectacular geography, and every type of climate imaginable. Excitingly, it’s always changing, too: history has taught that geopolitical boundaries shift dramatically as centuries pass. In the next decades, who’s to say which countries will become the world’s largest? When 11.5 percent of all the land in the entire world is claimed by just one country, it’s not surprising to learn that the tenth largest country ( Algeria ) could fit into the largest ( Russia ) seven times over. When all 10 of the world's largest countries are taken together, they total 49% of the earth's entire 149 million square kilometres of land.

10 – Algeria The Algerian Sahara, the largest expanse of Saharan dessert Algeria , at 2.38 million square kilometers, is the tenth-largest country in the world by area and the only African country in the top 10. Situated in Northern Africa, Algeria has a Mediterranean coastline 998 km long. 90 percent of the country is desert, and much of its desert regions are highly elevated. The Tell Atlas mountain range runs along the country’s northern border, while the interior, much of it hundreds of meters above sea level, contains the Algerian portion of the Sahara desert. The massive Algerian Sahara extends all the way to the south of the country past its borders with Niger and Mali . 9 – Kazakhstan Kazakhstan is the world's largest landlocked country Kazakhstan’s 2.72 million square kilometers stretch over vast plains and highlands. A cool and dry, but not quite desert-like, climate prevails for most of the year. Kazakhstanis experience a great range of temperatures throughout the year, though it doesn’t get as cold in Kazakhstan as it does in parts of its northern neighbor, Russia .

Formerly part of the USSR, the largest nation in the world for most of the 20th century, Kazakhstan’s current main claim to fame is its status as the largest landlocked country in the world—and the only landlocked country in the top 10. 8 – Argentina Mount Fitz Roy in Patagonia, Argentina Argentina , the world’s 32nd most populous country, is the world’s eighth largest, and the largest Spanish-speaking nation in the world by area. Its 2.78 million square kilometers include some of the most varied geography and climate in the world. Swampy, tropical conditions in the very north give way to freezing glacial regions in the south. Patagonia, one of the most spectacular and dangerous places on the planet, stretches from the southern Andes in the west to the Atlantic Ocean in the east. The southern tip of Argentina, known as Cape Horn, is one of the stormiest locations on the globe. 6 – Australia The Twelve Apostles, Victoria State, Australia The approximately 4.4 million square kilometer difference between Australia and India represents the second-largest size difference between countries ranked consecutively in the top 10.

Australia, at around 7.69 million square kilometers, is over twice the size of India . It’s the largest country in Oceania by far. Technically it is so large that it doesn’t even qualify as an island, it is a continental landmass. The vast majority of its population live in coastal cities like Sydney in the east and Perth in the west, and with good reason: the Australian Outback is one of the world’s driest and hottest regions. Along with extreme climate and geography, Australia is known for its spectacular—and often deadly—wildlife. 5 – Brazil Copacabana beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil The largest country in South America at over 8.51 million square kilometers, Brazil plays home to much of the world’s largest rainforest, the Amazon. The Amazon is so dense and vast that explorers and scientists have found human civilizations within—small tribes—that had never made contact with the outside world. Even still, these same experts believe there may be more undiscovered tribes living there unfound still. Brazil also has a lengthy Atlantic coastline on the eastern side, which stretches approximately 8,000 km.

Most of its major cities, including Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, were built along this coastline, detouring the thick Amazon jungle. 4 – People’s Republic of China The Great Wall of China stretches along a long stretch of the northern border of China China , the United States of America , and Canada each occupy just under seven percent of the globe’s surface. Of these three, China is the smallest—just barely—at approximately 9.6 million square kilometers. It shares a border with 14 different countries, including Afghanistan to the east, Russia to the north, and Vietnam to the south. Its climate and its people vary dramatically. In the north, temperatures drop to subarctic levels, the center of the nation holds the Gobi, the world’s 4th largest desert, and in the south temperatures reach tropical levels regularly. With over 1.35 billion citizens, China is home to 56 recognized ethnic groups, has the world’s 18th largest Muslim population, the 19th largest Christian population, and with 1.9 doctors per 1000 people, China has more doctors than the entire population of Qatar .

3 – United States of America Long meandering rivers of North Dakota cut through plains and canyons The United States , just bigger than China but slightly smaller than Canada , occupies 9.63 million square kilometers. Bordered by Mexico to the south, and Canada to the north, the United States is home to a diverse array of geography and wildlife. Two North-South features split the nation into three distinct pieces. West of the Rocky Mountains, the Pacific states are known for year round temperate weather and long expanses of beach along the California coast. Sandwiched between the Rockies and the Mississippi River, the great plains stretch from Canada to Mexico, giving the United States one of the world's most fertile growing areas. Lastly, the third of the nation east of the Mississippi is the industrial and economic hub of America, with major cities spread all along the Eastern seaboard. 2 – Canada The vast wilderness of Canada is popular for outdoor activity Canada’s 9.984 million square kilometers make it the largest country in the western hemisphere, and its 202,080 kilometer coastline means that it has a longer shoreline than any other nation.

With a population density of 4 people per square kilometer, this means that each of Canada's 35 million people could have 61 acres for themselves. Positioned between the Arctic and the United States, Canada’s massive frozen tundra extends into the Arctic Circle. Split similar to the USA; in the western half of the country, the Rocky Mountains run north to south, and prairies provide huge grain and canola growing areas. Eastern Canada is the traditional heart of the nation, with Toronto, Montreal, and the national capital of Ottawa, all located in the East. 1 – Russia The Trans-Siberian Railroad is the world's longest railroad Russia’s 17.1 million square kilometres easily make it the world’s largest by area. In fact, if Russia were to lop off 7 million square kilometers, it would still be the largest—and the lopped-off section would rank seventh overall! Like China , Russia borders 14 different countries. Unlike China, none of Russia is tropical, though humid summers prevail in much of southern Russia. The Taiga, the world’s largest terrestrial biome, extends all the way from Eastern Canada throughout the vast majority of northern Russia.

Massive oil reserves exist underneath Russia’s frozen forests and tundra; however, due to the expense and difficulty of extracting it, much of Russia’s oil wealth remains untapped. 50 Largest Countries in the World By Area Rank 10 Countries With Largest Forest Area - 10 Most Today 10 Countries With Largest Forest Area 1 Comment The following list contains the 10 countries with the largest forest area in the world, along with the percentage of the total land area of the country: 1. Russia – 7,762,602 km2 (2,997,157 mi2) which are 45.40% of the country’s land area. Russia is not only the largest country in the world, but also the country with the largest forest area. The forest area of Russia alone is the size of the entire continent of Australia! Forests in Siberia, Russia 2. Brazil – 4,776,980 km2 (1,844,402 mi2) which are 56.10% of the total land area of Brazil.

Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world and over than half of it’s size is forested area, large part of which is the amazon area and its rainforest. The forest area of Brazil is larger than India Amazon Rainforests in Brazil 3. Canda – 3,101,340 km2 (1,197,434 mi2) which are 31.06% of Canada’s land. Canada is the second largest country in the world and its forest area is just about the size of India Forests in Quebec, Canada 4. United States – 3,030,890 km2 (1,170,233 mi2) of forest area which make for 30.84% of the US land Redwoods forests, California, United States 5. China – 1,821,000 km2 (703,092 mi2) which are only 18.21% of the land area of China. China has the smallest precentage of forests on it’s land from all the countries in this top 10 list Forests in Xibin, China 6.

Australia – 1,470,832 km2 (567,891 mi2) – 19.00% Adelaide Hills Forest Range, South Australia 7. Congo (D.R) – 1,219,326 km2 (470,784 mi2) which are 52% of the country’s land Raiforests in Congo 8. Argentina – 945,336 km2 (364,996 mi2) – 34% of the land of Argentina is forested area Iguazu waterfalls in Argentina – a big forested area 9. Indonesia – 884,950 km2 (341,681 mi2) – 46.46% – almost half of Indonesia is a forest Forests in Cibodas, indonesia 10.

India – 778,424 km2 (300,551 mi2) – 23.68% Forests in Karnataka, India Brazil country brief - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Brazil country brief Brazil country brief Overview Australia opened its first diplomatic mission in Latin America in 1945 in the then-capital of Brazil, Rio de Janeiro. Brazil established a diplomatic presence in Australia the following year. Brazil maintains a consulate in Sydney, while Australia has an Austrade-managed Consulate-General in São Paulo. The Prime Minister and Brazilian President agreed to elevate the bilateral relationship to a "Strategic Partnership" in June 2012 in recognition of the deepening of bilateral relations in recent years and the growing commonalities between the two countries. The Federative Republic of Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world (approximately 10 per cent larger than Australia) and the largest country in Latin America. Brazil has around 16,000 kilometres of land borders with nine countries and French Guiana.

Brazil, like Australia, has a huge diversity in geography and temperatures, with the tropical Amazon in the north, semi-arid Brazilian outback (Sertão) in the Northeast, the massive Pantanal wetlands and hot central tablelands in the central west, sub-tropical to temperate in the south and south east, and even snow in the south during winter. Brazil is the fifth most populous country in the world, with over 206 million people (2015), most of whom are descendants of Europeans and Africans. Indigenous communities represent 0.4% of the population. Roman Catholicism is the main religion, but there are sizeable communities of Christians from other denominations. Other religions and the non-religious make up a small minority. Portuguese is the official language of Brazil. Political overview Background Brazil’s name comes from the Brazilwood tree which was the first natural resource to be exploited by the Portuguese following their arrival in 1500. The capital of Brazil is Brasília, a planned city like Canberra. Brazil has been inhabited for at least 8,000 years.

It was a Portuguese colony from 1500-1822, and holds the distinction of being the only colony to become a seat of its Empire, when the Portuguese court fled to Rio de Janeiro following Napoleon’s invasion of Portugal in 1807. A quasi-military coup in 1889 led to the establishment of the Republic of Brazil. Brazil was a democracy for most of the 20th century, except during several periods of dictatorship (1930-34 and 1937-45) and military rule (1964-1985). Democratic governance has been preserved since 1985. System of government Brazil is a federal republic composed of 26 states and a federal district, with three tiers of government. Each state has its own government structure mirroring that of the federal level, and there are over 5,500 municipal councils. Voting is universal and compulsory for all literate citizens aged 18-70, and optional for those aged 16-17, over 70, or the illiterate.

Under Brazil's constitution, the president and vice-president are elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms. The National Congress consists of the Federal Senate with 81 members serving eight-year terms, and the Chamber of Deputies consisting of 513 members elected by proportional representation to serve four-year terms. There is no minimum party size for a ticket, and there are many smaller parties with seats in Congress, representing niche views. This makes it essential for governments to form coalitions to pass legislation – and this coalition and consensus building slows down the passage of legislation. Recent political developments On 31 August 2016, then President Dilma Rousseff was removed from office following her impeachment by the Brazilian Senate. 61 of 81 senators voted for impeachment, seven votes more than the two-thirds majority that was required. Rousseff's removal saw the end of 13 years of leftist rule in Brazil. Vice President Michel Temer was subsequently sworn in as President (also on 31 August) and is set to serve the remainder of Rousseff’s term. The next presidential election is currently scheduled for October 2018.

Former President Rousseff (known as ‘Dilma’), a member of the centre-left Workers Party, was Brazil's first female president. She assumed office in January 2011, after previously serving as Minister for Mines and Energy and Chief of Cabinet (a ministerial role in Brazil) in former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s administration. Foreign Policy Brazil is a global player; it is a member of a number of key international groupings, including the G20, the World Trade Organisation, BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa), IBSA (India, Brazil, South Africa), the BASIC group in climate change negotiations (Brazil, South Africa, India, China), as well as the G4 that seek permanent membership of the UN Security Council (Brazil, Germany, India, Japan). In recent years, Brazilian candidates have been elected Secretary General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and of the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation. Brazil continues to view itself as a champion of the rights of developing countries. Brazil’s membership of Mercosur (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela) is a key part of its regional leadership.

Brazil was also a driving force in the creation of the Union of South American Nations (known as Unasur). Brazil is a member of Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) – an intergovernmental regional forum that brings together the thirty-three countries of Latin America and the Caribbean for dialogue and political agreement on regional integration matters. Bilateral relations Under the 2012 Australia-Brazil Strategic Partnership, agreement was reached to hold regular leaders' meetings, and Foreign and Trade Minister Consultations at least every two years, and expand the bilateral senior officials' meetings to include defence representatives in a "Strategic Dialogue". The Strategic Partnership contains initiatives aimed at improving bilateral links, including education, resources and energy, science and technology and trade and investment as well as furthering multilateral and regional cooperation. In August and September 2016, the Governor-General, His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Retd), visited Rio de Janeiro for the opening of both the Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games. The Minister for Sport, the Hon Sussan Ley MP also attended the opening of the Olympic Games, and whilst in Rio, chaired the 8th Commonwealth Sports Ministers Meeting.

Then President Rousseff and then Foreign Minister Luiz Alberto Figueiredo visited Australia in November 2014 for the G20 Leaders' Summit in Brisbane. In the sidelines of the G20 meetings, Foreign Ministers Bishop and Figueiredo signed a MOU on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters. In December 2014, then Trade and Investment Minister, the Hon Andrew Robb AO MP, visited Rio de Janeiro to promote Brazilian investment in Australia and participate in the Council on Australia-Latin America Relations (COALAR)-supported Energy-Water-Food Nexus Seminar, which helped build linkages between Australian and Brazilian specialists in these sectors of shared concern. In July 2015, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon Julie Bishop MP, visited Brasilia and São Paulo and signed a MOU on Education, Research and Vocational Training. Australian and Brazilian foreign and trade policy interests coincide in several important areas and the two countries cooperate multilaterally on issues of mutual interest including climate change and agricultural trade reform, the latter through the Cairns Group in the WTO.

Brazil and Australia have a close working relationship in the G20, and in that forum have a common priority to reform international financial institutions (such as the World Bank and IMF) to give developing countries a greater voice in these organisations. Australia and New Zealand participate in the CER-Mercosur Dialogue. The most recent meeting took place in Brasilia in October 2012. The dialogue was established in 1996 as a mechanism to strengthen cooperation on global trade policy issues and to promote inter-regional trade and investment. Both Australia and Brazil are members of the Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC) , which aims to increase and improve mutual understanding, political dialogue and cooperation among its member states from East Asia and Latin America. In 2001, the Australian Government established the Council on Australia-Latin America Relations (COALAR) which aims to enhance commercial, political and cultural relations between Australia and Latin America. Since its inception, COALAR has been active in promoting business, education, tourism and cultural links between Australia and Latin America. It has supported a range of activities in Brazil, including cultural and trade promotion events.

For updates on COALAR activities and information on the annual grants program, follow COALAR on Facebook . In 2016, throughout April and May, the largest Australian cultural festival ever to be organised in Latin America took place in Brazil. The Australia now festival was a five-week event featuring over twenty Australian acts who performed in eleven Brazilian cities, introducing hundreds of thousands of Brazilians to contemporary Australian culture. The events featured Australian gastronomy, fashion, film, Indigenous ceremony and performance, photography, music, dance, visual arts and sports. To learn more about Australia now go to: People-to-people links In addition to a strong trade and investment relationship, Australia and Brazil have growing people-to-people links. The inaugural Australia-Brazil Dialogue took place in São Paulo in March 2013, bringing together high-level representatives from government, business, academia, media and think-tanks. Brazil is the largest Latin American market for visitors to Australia with over 45,000 short-term visitor arrivals from Brazil in 2015 and over 18,000 short-term departures from Australia to Brazil in 2015.

Around 20,000 Australians travelled to Brazil for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, representing one of the largest groups of foreigners that visited Brazil for the event. Education engagement between Australia and Brazil is forging strong links between the two countries and Brazil is currently the largest source of international students in Australia outside of Asia. More than 25,000 Brazilians are enrolled in courses in Australia. The Brazilian Government's international scholarship program, Science Without Borders, gave a significant boost in the numbers of Brazilians studying in Australian higher education institutions. There are more than 80 active agreements between Australian education institutions and Brazilian governments and institutions. The iconic city of Rio de Janeiro hosted the 31st Olympiad from 5 to 21 August 2016, and the 15th Paralympic Summer Games from 7 to 18 September. This was the first time a South American nation hosted the Games, and Brazil has joined Australia as the only other southern hemisphere host to date. In 1901, just 105 Brazil-born persons were living in Australia.

A small but growing number of Brazilians began migrating to Australia in the late 1960s and early 1970s. According to the 2011 census, around 14,500 people living in Australia were born in Brazil. More information can be found at the Department of Social Services Community Information Summary page . Development assistance From 2010 to 2014, Australia provided $100 million in development assistance to Latin America, including 250 Australia Awards scholarships. The regional program has now closed, though some activities which have already been funded will continue until 2017. Economic overview The World Factbook — Central Intelligence Agency Background: Following more than three centuries under Portuguese rule, Brazil gained its independence in 1822, maintaining a monarchical system of government until the abolition of slavery in 1888 and the subsequent proclamation of a republic by the military in 1889. Brazilian coffee exporters politically dominated the country until populist leader Getulio VARGAS rose to power in 1930.

By far the largest and most populous country in South America, Brazil underwent more than a half century of populist and military government until 1985, when the military regime peacefully ceded power to civilian rulers. Brazil continues to pursue industrial and agricultural growth and development of its interior. Having successfully weathered a period of global financial difficulty in the late 20th century, Brazil was seen as one of the world’s strongest emerging markets and a contributor to global growth. The awarding of the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympic Games, the first ever to be held in South America, was seen as symbolic of the country’s rise. However, since about 2013, Brazil has been plagued by a shrinking economy, growing unemployment, and rising inflation. Political scandal resulted in the impeachment of President Dilma ROUSSEFF in May 2016, a conviction that was upheld by the Senate in August 2016; her vice president, Michel TEMER, will serve as president until 2018, completing her second term.

Geography :: BRAZIL Environment - current issues: deforestation in Amazon Basin destroys the habitat and endangers a multitude of plant and animal species indigenous to the area; there is a lucrative illegal wildlife trade; air and water pollution in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, and several other large cities; land degradation and water pollution caused by improper mining activities; wetland degradation; severe oil spills Environment - international agreements: party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements largest country in South America and in the Southern Hemisphere; shares common boundaries with every South American country except Chile and Ecuador People and Society :: BRAZIL Languages: Portuguese (official and most widely spoken language) note: less common languages include Spanish (border areas and schools), German, Italian, Japanese, English, and a large number of minor Amerindian languages Religions: Roman Catholic

 64.6%, other Catholic 0.4%, Protestant 22.2% (includes Adventist 6.5%, Assembly of God 2.0%, Christian Congregation of Brazil 1.2%, Universal Kingdom of God 1.0%, other Protestant 11.5%), other Christian 0.7%, Spiritist 2.2%, other 1.4%, none 8%, unspecified 0.4% (2010 est.) Demographic profile: Brazil's rapid fertility decline since the 1960s is the main factor behind the country's slowing population growth rate, aging population, and fast-paced demographic transition.

Brasilia has not taken full advantage of its large working-age population to develop its human capital and strengthen its social and economic institutions but is funding a study abroad program to bring advanced skills back to the country. The current favorable age structure will begin to shift around 2025, with the labor force shrinking and the elderly starting to compose an increasing share of the total population. Well-funded public pensions have nearly wiped out poverty among the elderly, and Bolsa Familia and other social programs have lifted tens of millions out of poverty. More than half of Brazil's population is considered middle class, but poverty and income inequality levels remain high; the Northeast, North, and Center-West, women, and black, mixed race, and indigenous populations are disproportionately affected. Disparities in opportunities foster social exclusion and contribute to Brazil's high crime rate, particularly violent crime in cities and favelas. Brazil has traditionally been a net recipient of immigrants, with its southeast being the prime destination. After the importation of African slaves was outlawed in the mid-19th century, Brazil sought Europeans (Italians, Portuguese, Spaniards, and Germans) and later Asians (Japanese) to work in agriculture, especially coffee cultivation.

Recent immigrants come mainly from Argentina, Chile, and Andean countries (many are unskilled illegal migrants) or are returning Brazilian nationals. Since Brazil's economic downturn in the 1980s, emigration to the United States, Europe, and Japan has been rising but is negligible relative to Brazil's total population. The majority of these emigrants are well-educated and middle-class. Fewer Brazilian peasants are emigrating to neighboring countries to take up agricultural work.

0-14 years: 22.79% (male 23,905,185/female 22,994,222) 15-24 years: 16.43% (male 17,146,060/female 16,661,163) 25-54 years: 43.84% (male 44,750,568/female 45,489,430) 55-64 years: 8.89% (male 8,637,011/female 9,656,370) 65 years and over: 8.06% (male 7,059,944/female 9,523,712) (2016 est.) population pyramid: geographic coordinates: 15 47 S, 47 55 W time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr,

 begins third Sunday in October; ends third Sunday in February note: Brazil has three time zones, including one for the Fernando de Noronha Islands Administrative divisions: 26 states (estados, singular - estado) and 1 federal district* (distrito federal); Acre, Alagoas, Amapa, Amazonas, Bahia, Ceara, Distrito Federal*, Espirito Santo, Goias, Maranhao, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Para, Paraiba, Parana, Pernambuco, Piaui, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Norte, Rio Grande do Sul, Rondonia, Roraima, Santa Catarina, Sao Paulo, Sergipe, Tocantins chief of state: President Michel Miguel Elias TEMER Lulia (since 31 August 2016); Vice President (vacant); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Michel Miguel Elias TEMER Lulia (since 31 August 2016); Vice President (vacant) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections/appointments: president and vice president directly elected on the

 same ballot by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a single 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 5 October 2014 with runoff on 26 October 2014 (next to be held October 2018) election results: Dilma ROUSSEFF reelected president in a runoff election; percent of vote - Dilma ROUSSEFF (PT) 51.6%, Aecio NEVES (PSDB) 48.4% note: on 12 May 2016, Brazil's Senate voted to hold an impeachment trial of President Dilma ROUSSEFF, who was then suspended from her executive duties; Vice President Michel TEMER then took over as acting president; on 31 August 2016 the Senate voted 61-20 in favor of conviction; TEMER will now serve as president for the remainder of ROUSSEFF's term until 1 January 2019 Legislative branch: description: bicameral National Congress or Congresso Nacional consists of the Federal Senate or Senado Federal (81 seats; 3 members each from 26 states and 

3 from the federal district directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 8-year terms, with one-third and two-thirds of the membership elected alternately every 4 years) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara dos Deputados (513 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms) elections: Federal Senate - last held on 5 October 2014 for one-third of the Senate (next to be held in October 2018 for two-thirds of the Senate); Chamber of Deputies - last held on 5 October 2014 (next to be held in October 2018) election results: Federal Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PMDB 5, PSDB 4, PDT 4, PSB 3, DEM (formerly PFL) 3, PT 2, PSD 2, PTB 2, PP 1, PR 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PT 70, PMDB 66, PSDB 54, PSD 37, PP 

36, PR 34, PSB 34, PTB 25, DEM (formerly PFL) 22, PRB 21, PDT 19, SD 15, PSC 12, PROS 11, PCdoB 10, PPS 10, PV 8, PHS 5, PSOL 5, PTN 4, PMN 3, PRP 3, PEN 2, PTC 2, PSDC 2, PTdoB 1, PSL 1, PRTB 1 Judicial branch: highest court(s): Supreme Federal Court or Supremo Tribunal Federal (consists of 11 justices) judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the president and approved by the Federal Senate; justices appointed to serve until mandatory retirement at age 75 subordinate courts: Tribunal of the Union, Federal Appeals Court, Superior Court of Justice, Superior Electoral Court, regional federal courts; state court system Brazilian Communist Party or PCB [Ivan Martins PINHEIRO] Brazilian Democratic Movement Party or PMDB [Michel TEMER] Brazilian Labor Party or PTB [Cristiane BRASIL] Brazilian Renew

al Labor Party or PRTB [Jose Levy FIDELIX da Cruz] Brazilian Republican Party or PRB [Marcos Antonio PEREIRA] Brazilian Social Democracy Party or PSDB [Aecio NEVES] Brazilian Socialist Party or PSB [Carlos Roberto SIQUEIRA de Barros] Christian Labor Party or PTC [Daniel TOURINHO] Christian Social Democratic Party or PSDC [Jose Maria EYMAEL] Communist Party of Brazil or PCdoB [Jose Renato RABELO] Democratic Labor Party or PDT [Carlos Roberto LUPI] The Democrats or DEM [Jose AGRIPINO] (formerly Liberal Front Party or PFL) Free Homeland Party or PPL [Sergio RUBENS] Green Party or PV [Jose Luiz PENNA] Humanist Party of Solidarity or PHS [Eduardo MACHADO] Labor Party of Brazil or PTdoB [Luis Henrique de Oliveira RESENDE] National Ecologic Party or PEN [Adilson Barroso OLIVEIRA] National Labor Party or PTN [Jose Masci de ABREU] National Mobilization Party or PMN [Telma RIBEIRO dos Santos] Party of the Republic or PR [Alfredo NAS

CIMENTO] Popular Socialist Party or PPS [Roberto Joao Pereira FREIRE] Progressive Party or PP [Ciro NOGUEIRA] Progressive Republican Party or PRP [Ovasco Roma Altimari RESENDE] Republican Social Order Party or PROS [Euripedes JUNIOR] Social Christian Party or PSC [Vitor Jorge Abdala NOSSEIS] Social Democratic Party or PSD [Guilherme CAMPOS] Social Liberal Party or PSL [Luciano Caldas BIVAR] Socialism and Freedom Party or PSOL [Luiz ARAUJO] Solidarity or SD [Paulo PEREIRA DA SILVA] United Socialist Workers' Party or PSTU [Jose Maria DE ALMEIDA] Workers' Cause Party or PCO [Rui Costa PIMENTA] Workers' Party or PT [Rui FALCAO] Political pressure groups and leaders: Landless Workers' Movement or MST other: industrial federations; labor unions and federations; large farmers' associations; religious groups including evangelical Christian churches and the Catholic Church International organization participation: AfDB (nonregional member), BIS, BRICS, CAN (associate), CD, CELAC, CPLP, FA

O, FATF, G-15, G-20, G-24, G-5, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA, LAS (observer), Mercosur, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS, OECD (Enhanced Engagement, OPANAL, OPCW, Paris Club (associate), PCA, SICA (observer), UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNISFA, UNITAR, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO chief of mission: Ambassador Sergio Silva do

 AMARAL (since 16 September 2016) chancery: 3006 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 238-2700 FAX: [1] (202) 238-2827 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Hartford (CT), Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, Washington, DC chief of mission: Ambassador Liliana AYALDE (since 31 October 2013) embassy: Avenida das Nacoes, Quadra 801, Lote 3, Distrito Federal Cep 70403-900, Brasilia mailing address: Unit 7500, DPO, AA 34030 telephone: [55] (61) 3312-7000 Flag description: green with a large yellow diamond in the center bearing a blue celestial globe with 27 white five-pointed stars; the globe has a white equatorial band with the motto ORDEM E PROGRESSO (Order and Progress

); the current flag was inspired by the banner of the former Empire of Brazil (1822-1889); on the imperial flag, the green represented the House of Braganza of Pedro I, the first Emperor of Brazil, while the yellow stood for the Habsburg Family of his wife; on the modern flag the green represents the forests of the country and the yellow rhombus its mineral wealth (the diamond shape roughly mirrors that of the country); the blue circle and stars, which replaced the coat of arms of the original flag, depict the sky over Rio de Janeiro on the morning of 15 November 1889 - the day the Republic of Brazil was declared; the number of stars has changed with the creation of new states and has risen from an original 21 to the current 27 (one for each state and the Federal District) note: one of several flags where a prominent component of the design reflects the shape of the country; other such flags are those of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Eritrea, and Vanuatu name: "Hino Nacional Brasileiro" (Brazilian National Anthem) lyrics/music: Joaquim Osorio Duque ESTRADA/Francisco Manoel

 DA SILVA note: music adopted 1890, lyrics adopted 1922; the anthem's music, composed in 1822, was used unofficially for many years before it was adopted Economy :: BRAZIL Economy - overview: Characterized by large and well-developed agricultural, mining, manufacturing, and service sectors, and a rapidly expanding middle class, Brazil's economy outweighs that of all other South American countries, and Brazil is expanding its presence in world After strong growth in 2007 and 2008, the onset of the global financial crisis hit Brazil in 2008.

Brazil experienced two quarters of recession, as global demand for Brazil's commodity-based exports dwindled and external credit dried up. However, Brazil w Brazil’s fiscal and current account balances have eroded during the past four years as the government attempted to boost economic growth through targeted tax cuts for industry and incentives to spur household consumption.

After winning reelection in Octob Brazil seeks to strengthen its workforce and its economy over the long run by imposing local content and technology transfer requirements on foreign businesses, by investing in education through social programs such as Bolsa Familia and the Brazil Science 577 billion kWh (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 9 518 billion kWh (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 9 3 million kWh (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 97 34 billion kWh (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 5 135 million kW (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 9 18.7% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 196 1.5% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 32 69.3% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 24 10.5% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 34 

2.437 million bbl/day (2015 est.) country comparison to the world: 11 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 126 (July 2015 est.) country comparison to the world: 6 Telephone system: general assessment: good working system including an extensive microwave radio relay system and a domestic satellite system with 64 earth stations domestic: fixed-line connections have remained relatively stable in recent years and stand at about 20 per 100 persons; less-expensive mobile-cellular technology has been a major driver in expanding telephone service to the lower-income segments of the population w international: country code - 55; landing point for a number of submarine cables, including Americas-1, Americas-2, Atlantis-2, GlobeNet, South America-1, South American Crossing/Latin American Nautilus, and UNISUR that provide direct connectivity to South and Central A (2015) note: does not include urban roads (2010) country comparison to the world: 4 50,000 km (most in areas remote from industry and population) (2012) country comparison to the world: 3 Merchant marine: total

: 109 by type: bulk carrier 18, cargo 16, chemical tanker 7, container 13, liquefied gas 11, petroleum tanker 39, roll on/roll off 5 foreign-owned: 27 (Chile 1, Denmark 3, Germany 6, Greece 1, Norway 3, Spain 12, Turkey 1) registered in other countries: 36 (Argentina 1, Bahamas 1, Ghana 1, Liberia 20, Marshall Islands 1, Panama 3, Singapore 9) (2010) country comparison to the world: 50 major seaport(s): Belem, Paranagua, Rio Grande, Rio de Janeiro, Santos, Sao Sebastiao, Tubarao river port(s): Manaus (Amazon) dry bulk cargo port(s): Sepetiba ore terminal, Tubarao container ports (TEUs): Santos (2,985,922), Itajai (983,985)(2011) oil terminal(s): DTSE/Gegua oil terminal, Ilha Grande (Gebig), Guaiba Island terminal, Guamare

 oil terminal LNG terminal(s) (import): Pecem, Rio de Janiero Military and Security :: BRAZIL

Question: Which country has the largest area, Australia or Brazil?
Answer: Brazil